Rida Memon ’24 is an example of how the College of Arts and Sciences’ interdisciplinary curriculum can help shape a student’s future career. Memon majored in global studies with a concentration in global justice and human rights, and minored in political science, Spanish and law—a combination she knew would help her achieve her goal of helping marginalized communities as a public interest lawyer. She is currently continuing her education as a J.D. candidate at Drexel’s Thomas R. Kline School of Law.  

“When I came to Drexel, I knew I wanted to go to law school and become a lawyer, but I wasn't 100% sure about what type of law I wanted to go into,” she recalled. “The co-op experiences and classes helped me narrow down which area of law I want to practice, then after I took a few classes and got to participate in co-op I realized that I want to work with vulnerable populations like refugees, asylum seekers, survivors of gender-based violence and people who have had contact with the criminal justice system.”  

During her first co-op at HIAS Pennsylvania, a nonprofit that works with refugees and asylum seekers, Memon spoke to clients in Spanish and even acted as a translator on legal calls. She became more comfortable with her language and interpersonal skills, and when she returned to the classroom, she brought those skills with her. "By learning about the challenges that people in the community experience, I can better help them as a lawyer.”